Julian E. Zelizer
Special to CNN
When President Obama moved into the White House, press speculation immediately began about what his first 100 days would look like.
Journalists as well as scholars looked to history to speculate about which models of presidential leadership he might follow.
As we reach the end of the first 100 days this week, Obama remains much of a mystery. If we are talking grades, the best we can give him at this point is an "incomplete."
Given that the first 100 days is only an artificial marker - it's been used since the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt - it is not surprising that it is too early to reach sweeping conclusions about what this presidency will be. It is worth remembering that Jimmy Carter, whose presidency would become deeply troubled by his second year, ended his first 100 days with high approval ratings and positive media coverage.
